Reford Gardens, Grand-Métis, Québec
5 Blooms Excellence in Marketing and Horticultural Communication
The Reford Gardens received a 5 Bloom rating and a special mention for Excellence in Marketing and Horticultural Communication during the 2014 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Charlottetown, PEI. The Reford Gardens participated in the Special Attractions (Evaluated) category along with the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village and The Battlefields Park. In July, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – in regards to the following criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays. Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Odette Sabourin-Dumais and Gérald Lajeunesse wrote: “The Managers of the Gardens exhibit exceptional expertise in marketing and communication for the promotion of their remote tourist destination. They have responded to the challenge to ensure its influence not only in Canada but also abroad. With a marketing plan and communication developed and multidimensional, “The Reford Gardens” has positioned itself since its inception among the 25 most beautiful gardens in North America. A more in-depth networking which includes extramural exhibits, collaborations with universities, participation in school groups, research projects, horticultural clubs, seminars, numerous off-site conferences, promotional tools on social networks and constant "online" communication allows the Gardens to expand the range of target customers-visitors to include not only Canada and the United States but also Europe and around the world.”. Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society. For a complete list of the results and the electronic copy of the Communities in Bloom magazine, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca. About Communities in Bloom Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces. The pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment generated through participation are visible in communities across Canada. For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca.